Canon 550D or upgrade to Canon 750D

Would like some opinions regarding an upgrade to my Canon 550D. I currently use this camera as my favoured sports camera in conjunction with my Sigma 150-500mm zoom. I also have a Canon 100-300mm USM lens which I use when I want to reduce the weight of what I carry. I am very satisfied with the results. As an improvement I was considering upgrading to the Canon 750D, from what I have read 750D has faster focusing and greater number of pixels 6.2 which I may find useful when I heavily crop an image from a photo when the players are a long distance from me up to 180 metres. I only use centrepoint focusing and centre weighted exposure settings. From this setup I was wondering whether it is even worth while upgrading, these extra features on the 750D will be of little benefit to myself. Any opinions from anyone who has used these 2 cameras for sports photography, soccer, tennis, rugby, Australian Rules Football and cricket.

While it is not considered a "sports" Camera if you are making it work for yourself and are happy with the results then the 750d is a good upgrade. It has a newer sensor with more pixels for cropping, better ISO noise control (well a slight increase anyway!!) and what should be a superior AF system compared to the 550D. It is the 4th generation replacement for the 550d so it will be still familiar to you. People will see this and say you need the 70D 80D and 7dII for sports, possibly they have a point, there are advantages in those cameras over the 750D for sports (better focus points and FPS) but if you are happy with your results so far you will be just as happy (if not more so with the 750D).
You could also consider instead of the camera a different lens? The Sigma 150-600 might give you that extra reach, a lot of people are happy with it for birding and sports would be no problem for it if it can get birds.
There is no Right answer some one else can give you. they can only make suggestions. only you can make the decision about what is best for you.

You will be able to crop about 15% more or so on a side, I believe.

ISO performance is virtually the same.
https://www.dpreview.c​om …1877&y=0.890898​2155318512

It seems you gain newer AF (both feature and function).

So I think the only advantages would be a bit more crop-ability and better AF, along with perhaps some new fun features. It would be an upgrade, but it doesn't seem like a huge upgrade IMO.

AF for sports is benefited by having more AF points across the frame, with as many cross type as you can get, along with f8 focusing. Often for compositional needs, you would want to use off-center AF points.

Thanks for reply. If you know any photographs that show this 15% more crop compared to the original photo I would like to see them. I have a relative who has a Sony 43 Mg camera he is convinced with this camera you can crop substantially and still get high quality photos. I have conducted tests on teleconverters photos here https://www.zonerama.c​om/RonsGaller/Album/24​20499. Off the topic I know but this type of field test is more meaningful to me.
"AF for sports is benefited by having more AF points across the frame, with as many cross type as you can get". I assume this means who should have all focus points on your camera working not just centre point as I do, I don't what background spectators or cars and trees to be considered.
A better example of cropping that I use are these 2 photos. https://www.zonerama.c​om/RonsGaller/Album/30​24227
Would Canon 750D do any better than this?

galelegg wrote in post #18351681
Would like some opinions regarding an upgrade to my Canon 550D. I currently use this camera as my favoured sports camera in conjunction with my Sigma 150-500mm zoom. I also have a Canon 100-300mm USM lens which I use when I want to reduce the weight of what I carry. I am very satisfied with the results. As an improvement I was considering upgrading to the Canon 750D, from what I have read 750D has faster focusing and greater number of pixels 6.2 which I may find useful when I heavily crop an image from a photo when the players are a long distance from me up to 180 metres. I only use centrepoint focusing and centre weighted exposure settings. From this setup I was wondering whether it is even worth while upgrading, these extra features on the 750D will be of little benefit to myself. Any opinions from anyone who has used these 2 cameras for sports photography, soccer, tennis, rugby, Australian Rules Football and cricket.

Not worth it.

7D1, 7D2, 80D, 1D3, 1DIV, would be an upgrade. Get it refurbished or used.

Buffer matters for sports.

Very best,

Thanks for reply. I understand where you are coming from with buffer and continuous shooting. I have tried this technique and it does increase the chances of a better shot. However "I'd rather go fishing" than have to wade through 4000 continuously taken photographs. I spoke with a pro photographer at a cricket match, 4000 is the number he took over 6 hours days play of cricket. He said he did not even look at most of his photos went to his mobile phone notepad and wrote down the time something significant happened on the field and just looked at these. He said only about 10 photos would be published on the sports association website and even then if a journalist was in a hurry he would go to the photo can and extract a photo of a player who was on a cricket field at sometime over the past. Not even a photograph from that day was needed.

Resize your 550d 5184 pixel image down to the same ratio as between the 550 and 750. Then crop the same part of each to see the equivalent effect.
Also as to center point vs of center, you will have fewer cut off limbs and more of the action critical to the shot if you can use other points. Shooting pro basketball has taught me at least one thing!

I came from t2i to 7d1 and it was underwhelming. Trust me, avoid wasting your money. Don't bother with a updated rebel or an outdated prosumer crop like the 7d.

If you actually want an all around upgrade on a crop look at the 80d. Better IQ, DR, low light and focus system.

But really imo as someone who was once in your shoes...the real next step is full frame. Save your money and buy a full frame cam. One things for certain, you won't regret it.

I resized an original photo down by 73.33% and applied the same dimension crop to each photo, I did not notice any difference with my eyes. The Canon 7d can be purchased 2nd hand in AUD $500 less than a new Canon
750D AUD $700. A lot of the 1st model 7D available on Ebay.
The centrepoint focusing I use especially with cricket as you can focus on a stationary batsman, fielder, umpire waiting. On their chests is a sponsors logo which you can focus in on. Will try multi point focusing for Australian Rules Football and Rugby on Saturday.

If you did the crop properly, one crop is larger than the other. That will be then be the "enlargement factor" you get with added resolution.